In my early 20s, I decided to use my summer holiday to travel the coast of Iwate on my own. I bought the JR Seishun 18 Ticket, which meant I had free range of almost all the JR stations in Japan—and I chose Miyako as my first stop.

Love is in the air! Whether found in nature or built by design, your heart will be filled to bursting when you catch a glimpse of these heart-shaped spots throughout the country, just begging to be photographed!